DOZENS of people were today in custody after violent clashes across Britain as fans reacted with fury to England's 2-1 Euro 2004 defeat by France in Lisbon.

DOZENS of people were today in custody after violent clashes across Britain as fans reacted with fury to England's 2-1 Euro 2004 defeat by France in Lisbon.

Police were attacked with bricks and bottles and patrol cars set alight as a wave of disorder broke out in Croydon, south London, Hertfordshire, Cambridge, Essex, Birmingham, Wakefield, West Yorkshire and Boston, Lincolnshire.

A Croydon bar manager said staff had to ask customers to remain inside after the game because of disturbances outside.

He said: "A lot of the customers were frightened and a lot of the staff were frightened."